Page 123 of Coveted

“Lucan,” says my father curtly. “Your uncle asked you a question.”

He looks at me expectantly, whiskey in hand. Damon and Gareth are also waiting for me to speak.

“Yes?” I ask Gareth.

My uncle smooths his jacket lapel. “Parker’s board seat. I’d like to fill it with Damon. He’s a business major, like you, and quite keen for the challenge.”

I’m sure he is. He would have the deciding vote on all major matters of Hale Enterprises.

Gareth continues. “Do you object? I believe Parker would approve.”

Inwardly, I groan. How can I deny my uncle after he invoked the name of his deceased son?

Dad and I exchange the briefest of glances.

It’s not that Parker and Hannah disliked Teenie and her twins. More like, they felt replaced, and with good reason.

Teenie removed photos of their late mother from around the house, saying it was depressing to have a dead woman gazing at them, day in and day out. Maybe it was, but she still had no right, and my uncle let her.

Gareth did love his children though, so I don’t want to be an asshole about the board seat. Marrying Teenie doesn’t make him evil.

My gaze strays to Damon. I know little about him and Adelle, except they’re both exceptionally intelligent, and in Damon’s case, ambitious.

Could they be killers? A multi-billion-dollar fortune is one hell of a motive, and hunting my cousins would’ve been a simple task, speaking as a hunter myself. The twins could’ve easily preyed on sweet Hannah and broken Parker.

My uncle never provided my cousins with the appropriate security for elite heirs. Negligent of him, if you ask me.

Dad’s secret investigations into Gareth’s new family have turned up nothing solid. But then again, Teenie and the twins have access to the same abundant resources we do. If they killed Hannah and Parker, proving it might be tough. They could’ve covered their tracks with professionals, and then hired some guy to terrorize Sadie, the only witness.

Or Damon might’ve put on a hoodie and tried to drag her into a car himself. He attended the gala too.

“Out of respect for Parker, I think we should allow the police to finalize their investigations before we make any board appointments,” I say. “It’s tactless to replace him so soon.”

Gareth frowns. “Very well.”

Dad gives me a stern look, his eyes wide. He clearly doesn’t suspect Gareth’s family as much as I do.

My father doesn’t have Sadie to worry about though. The idea of possibly breaking bread with her attacker makes my blood pressure rise.

Damon gives me an easy smile, which falters when our eyes meet. He must register my dark line of thought.

Sipping my whiskey, I fight to regain control of myself.

My blood’s running uncharacteristically hot these days. Discovering that you value someone more than life itself does that to a man.

Gareth seems to check out of the conversation. His eyes slide unfocused as he swigs whiskey at twice the rate of the rest of us.

Guilt pricks at me. Maybe I was too harsh by shutting him down about the board seat. I should save my venom for actual suspects, not my grieving uncle.

His drinking worries me too, because it reminds me of how Parker acted before his death.

Draining his glass, my uncle wanders away on his own.

“Family’s important,” says Damon to my father and me. “Mom married Gareth only last year, but we’ve grown close to him in that time. I hope you know I’m here for anything he needs.”

“I’m sure you’re staying close,” I say. “And once he’s gone, you’ll take his place at Hale Enterprises. A pretty nice deal for you, all things considered.”

“Lucan,” says Dad through a clenched jaw. “What has gotten into you?”